Milwaukee Road Archives

Collection Overview

Illustrations
Because the Milwaukee Road built most of its own equipment, the collection contains engineering drawings of cars, structures and locomotives. Over 50,000 of these have been indexed in a computer database. Printouts are available for viewing in the library, or an individual computer search can be done for a fee.

Photographs
Images range from glass plates done in the late 1800s to modern color slides.

Timetables
The archives include a complete collection of passenger train timetables from 1886 to Amtrak 1971, and a large number of "employee" or divisional operation timetables from the Milwaukee Road and smaller railroads that became part of it.

Documentation
Historical documents reveal the development of the Milwaukee Road from the Midwest in the 1850s to the Pacific Northwest by World War II. Included are reports of the Board of Directors from the Milwaukee Road, contracts that were made between the railroad and various suppliers as it moved westward, and documents concerning its bankruptcies. There is a complete set of the employee magazine, 1913 to 1974, indexed by the railroad with historical information about the Milwaukee Road and biographical information on employees. The library also has biographical files on many officials of the railroad and some employee files.

Milwaukee Road History

In 1847, the Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad was incorporated, and three years later its first train operated between Milwaukee and Wauwatosa. By 1857, track reached Prairie du Chien. The name changed to Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul in February 1874. The railroad grew strong throughout the Midwest, by 1887 reaching through Iowa and South Dakota, as far west as Kansas City and north into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

In 1905, the Milwaukee decided to expand west again, this time to Puget Sound. The "Lines West" were built between 1906 and 1909, from the middle of South Dakota to Seattle/Tacoma. Technological marvels, the lines were never successful, and were a major contributor to the bankruptcy in 1925. In 1928 the Road reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific. It was bankrupt again in 1935 and 1945. In 1977, once more in financial trouble, it reorganized and shed two-thirds of its trackage. It was acquired by the Soo Line Corp. on February 21, 1985, which operated it as the Milwaukee Road, Inc., until merging it into the Soo Line on January 1, 1986.

Despite its financial difficulties, the Milwaukee was innovative. It pioneered long-distance electrification (656 route miles), construction of all-welded freight and passenger cars, and operation of high-speed intercity passenger trains. (The steam powered Hiawatha commonly ran over 100 mph.) The road employed thousands and touched millions during its operation - it's legacy continues today through the interests of hobbyists and historians alike.

Volunteer Opportunities

Without the hard work of volunteers, this collection would not be an effective source for the history of the Milwaukee Road. Members of the Milwaukee Road Historical Association (MRHA) repair, sort and shelve the materials as volunteers. They add the information to a computer database in which the items can be searched, and assist in processing inquiries about the Milwaukee Road.

For more information, please visit the MRHA Web site.